Arkansas investment earnings top $57 millionLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas' treasurer says the state treasury earned $57.5 million on its investment of more than $3 billion during the past year, the most in almost a decade. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2tugz9T ) that interest earnings during the 2017 fiscal year that ended June 30 are the largest since fiscal 2009's $72.6 million. By comparison, Arkansas' treasury earned $22.3 million during the 2015 fiscal year and $48....

Arkansas woman convicted of smuggling meth in child car seatLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas woman has been convicted of smuggling methamphetamine inside the car seats where her children were sitting. Court records show 38-year-old Elsa Solis of Batesville was convicted Wednesday on charges that include conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute meth. An attorney for Solis did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Federal prosecutors say methamphetamine was found in the bottom of car seats...

Former employee sues railroad after Arkansas wreckFAYETTEVILLE — A railroad company is being sued by a former employee who says his injuries from a 2014 train wreck in northwest Arkansas were caused by poor and unsafe work conditions. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2v01ezT ) reports that former Arkansas and Missouri Railroad engineer Kevin Buehne filed the suit Monday in U.S. District Court. Buehne was the engineer on a work train that collided with a stalled passenger...

Criminal tax charges filed against Arkansas judgeBENTON — Felony tax evasion charges have been filed by against an Arkansas judge after the state's judicial commission filed similar charges. Court records show Saline County Circuit Judge Bobby McCallister of Benton was charged Tuesday with four counts of failing to pay or file state tax returns for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. An attorney for McCallister declined comment on Wednesday. The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability ...

2 Arkansas cities face lawsuits over panhandling ordinancesHOT SPRINGS — Two Arkansas cities are working to address their panhandling ordinances after being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union. The lawsuits argue that banning panhandlers from soliciting donations from people in public areas violate free speech rights. City leaders in Hot Springs are now working with the ACLU to resolve the issue, while Fort Smith has repealed and replaced its ordinance. Holly Dickson, legal director of the ACLU...

Governor names new Arkansas Drug DirectorLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has named the Benton police chief as the state's new drug director. Hutchinson said in a news release Wednesday that Chief Kirk Lane will replace former Arkansas Drug Director Denny Altes. Altes resigned in May. Hutchinson says he's confident Lane will work to advance the state's alcohol- and drug- abuse prevention and treatment initiatives. Lane has served has been police chief in Benton since 2009. ...

Ban on violence-fueling concerts lacks support in ArkansasLITTLE ROCK — A county leader's proposal urging four Arkansas cities to impose a 180-day ban on performing music that promotes or incites violence has been overruled due to First Amendment rights to free speech. Justice of the Peace Judy Green, D-Little Rock, proposed the idea for the ban in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville at the Pulaski County Quorum Court on Tuesday, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2tIx...

Execution drug challenge survives, but Arkansas lacks dosesLITTLE ROCK — A medical supply company's challenge to Arkansas' three-drug execution protocol remains alive, though the state doesn't have enough drugs to put any inmate to death after four men died by lethal injection in April. State lawyers argued unsuccessfully in the Pulaski County Courthouse on Wednesday that Arkansas was immune from a lawsuit brought by McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc., which doesn't want Arkansas to use its vecuronium bro...

Arkansas judge accused of not paying state, federal taxesLITTLE ROCK — A warrant has been issued for the arrest of an Arkansas judge accused of failing to pay state and federal income taxes. Saline County Circuty Court Judge Bobby McCallister faces four felony charges of failing to pay taxes. The charges were filed by a special prosecutor Tuesday, hours after a commission that oversees Arkansas judges filed its own charges of failing to pay state and federal income taxes against McCallister. The Ark...

Arkansas school test scores improve in 2nd yearLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas' third- through 10th-graders scored higher on the state-required ACT Aspire tests this spring than in 2016, according to state education officials. More than 287,500 students participated in the state's testing program for the second year, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2tapi0M ) reported. They also took online tests in English, math, science, reading and writing that were developed by the company that prod...

Arkansas energy company seeks nearly 4 percent rate increaseLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas energy company is seeking a nearly 4 percent increase in its residential rates from the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2u5jvy6 ) reports that Entergy Arkansas filed its request Friday. The company has asked the commission to decide on the filing by Dec. 13. If approved, customers would see an increase to their utility bills in December. The increase request is the seco...

Arkansas disabilities services waitlist reduced by 500LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says the waiting list for people with developmental disabilities in need of state services has been reduced by 500 since a revenue stream was created earlier this year to reduce the waiting time. Hutchinson told the Little Rock Rotary Club Tuesday that the list had grown to about 3,000 people. In January, Hutchinson signed a bill allowing the state to use $8.5 million from a 1999 settlement with tobac...

Walnut Ridge man named to Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionLITTLE ROCK — An outdoor apparel and equipment retailer from northeast Arkansas has been named to the state commission that regulates hunting and fishing in the state. Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday appointed Stan Jones of Walnut Ridge to a seven-year term on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Jones will replace outgoing commissioner Fred Brown, whose term expired. Jones farms more than 7,000 acres of land and is the owner of BANDED outdoo...

One Night With Elvis 'World Famous Travis Powell'Elvis tribute artist Travis Powell will star in "One Night with Elvis" at 7 p.m. July 22 at the Van Buren Fine Arts Center. During the concert, Powell will perform songs from Elvis' 1968 Comeback Special and 1970 concert years, while putting on his best Elvis impersonations. Singing classics, wearing the king's famous costumes and putting on a smile, Powell said Northwest Arkansas should be ready for an unforgettable performance. "Elvis was on...

Little Rock club's liquor license remains suspendedLITTLE ROCK— The liquor license of a Little Rock nightclub where a shooting during a rap concert left 28 people injured will remain suspended pending an investigation of possible violations, the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control Board said Monday. Power Ultra Lounge's liquor license was suspended soon after the July 1 shooting during a concert by rapper Ricky Hampton, also known as Finese2Tymes. Nightclub owner Herman Lewis did not testify dur...

Sheriff says victim in Arkansas plane crash was Georgia manCASH — Authorities say the pilot of a crop duster who was killed in a crash in northeast Arkansas was a Georgia man. Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd told KAIT (http://bit.ly/2uJoxhx ) Monday that 27-year-old Ronald Everidge of Pinehurst, Georgia, died in the crash near Cash, about 105 miles (169 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. Authorities say the plane crashed Saturday afternoon along Highway 226 after a witness reported the aircraft...

Mother dies hours after teenage daughter's body recoveredLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas woman who jumped into a river to save her teenage daughter died hours after the daughter's body was found. A Benton County Sheriff's Office spokesman says Rogers resident Kristin Wylie died Sunday around 12:30 p.m. at a hospital. Wylie's 13-year-old daughter had been found around 7:30 a.m. Sunday near War Eagle Mill. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2t5rdUA ) Wylie's daughter was swimming with anot...

Enthusiasts prepare for solar eclipseLITTLE ROCK — The first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in 99 years will occur in the United States on Aug. 21, and although Arkansas isn't in the "path of totality," residents will see the darkening of the sky, the lowering of temperatures and the disruption of wildlife associated with the astronomical phenomenon. "It's exhilarating to see," Carl Freyaldenhoven, a member of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society, said of the eclipse. "I...

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By KENNETH HEARD, Arkansas Democrat-GazetteThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pay raises for Arkansas officials to cost the state $708,000LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas' state auditor says a 2 percent pay raise for about 360 state government elected officials will cost the state about $708,000 over a 12-month period. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2u3K5rP ) that the state's Independent Citizens Commission approved 2 percent pay raises on June 27 for each of state government's elected officials except Republican Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. The raises will go into effect in...